Lupus Films and Melusine Productions, the studios behind acclaimed animated feature Ethel & Ernest, have reunited and joined forces with producers Sarah Radclyffe (co-founder, Working Title Films) and Barnaby Spurrier to produce a new 2D and mixed-media animated feature: Kensuke’s Kingdom. The project is based on the best-selling book by award-winning British author Michael Morpurgo (War Horse, Farm Boy).
Kensuke’s Kingdom centers on a boy named Michael and his dog, Stella, who are shipwrecked on a desert island. Terrified and struggling to survive, Michael soon discovers the island isn’t totally uninhabited when he encounters Kensuka, a mysterious old Japanese man who has been living there amidst a family of orangutans for decades. The mutually suspicious survivalists will have to join forces to save their fragile paradise when dangerous invaders appear on the horizon.
Camilla Deakin and Ruth Fielding (Lupus Films) and Stéphan Roelants (Melusine Prod.) will be attending Cartoon Movie in Bordeaux to present Kensuke’s Kingdom to the industry for the first time, on March 9 at 11:30 a.m. in Amphitheatre A. Both companies have been shortlisted for the event’s Cartoon Tribute for European Producer of the Year award for their work on Ethel & Ernest, which will also receive a special screening at the event (March 10, 11:30 a.m., Amphi A).
“We are very excited to be embarking on this new animated adventure with Sarah Radclyffe, Stéphan Roelants and Barnaby Spurrier,” said Deakin, co-founder of Lupus Films. “Kensuke’s Kingdom is a thrilling family story with an ecological message which we hope will resonate with audiences across the world.”
Kensuke’s Kingdom will be directed by award-winning duo Neil Boyle and Kirk Hendry (credits include The Last Belle, Junk, Who Framed Roger Rabbit, The Snowman and the Snowdog), from a screenplay written by screenwriter and children’s author Frank Cottrell-Boyce (Hilary and Jackie, Welcome to Sarajevo). The project is being produced by Deakin, Fielding, Spurrier and Roelants.
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